And it means the Government’s plan to offer free childcare to parents may be “doomed before it even gets started”.

The National Association of Headteachers, the professional body which represents heads across the country, said hundreds of nursery schools across England, particularly those in poorer areas, would be forced to close if the government doesn’t adjust its proposals.

It named Durham as one of four areas set to be hardest hit.

Nurseries in other parts of the North East are also under threat and the head of one Gateshead nursery warned the school was at risk.

The threat comes from the Government’s promise to provide 30 hours of free childcare to working parents of children aged three and four. While the Government is providing funding for two years, there is no guarantee of funding after that - which means nursery schools would have to meet the cost themselves.

But many will be unable to cope, particularly as they already face cuts in funding from local councils.

The National Association of Headteachers says Durham nursery schools face massive cuts with funding per hour cut by more than a third.

Others likely to be particularly hard hit are Hertfordshire, Birmingham and Lancashire, the Association said.

And Denise Henry, head teacher at Bensham Grove Community Nursery School in Gateshead, warned her school’s financial sustainability would be at risk.

She said: “Bensham Grove Community Nursery School is the only maintained nursery school in Gateshead. A large proportion of our children are from disadvantaged backgrounds and we work closely with local families.

“We are very concerned about the new early years funding plans, and the impact they will have upon children and their parents or carers. Whilst the government has recognised the high quality provided by nursery schools and allocated supplementary funding to support them, this is only for two years.

“Supplementary funding is essential long term for nursery schools to meet the legal requirements of a school. The supplementary funding amount illustrated in the consultations also would result in a significant decrease in our budget.

“These changes therefore put the sustainability of our school at risk.”

Pat Glass, Labour MP for North West Durham, is to raise concerns in the House of Commons.

MP Pat Glass

She said: “The every fact that we have these nursery schools in the most deprived areas gives these kids a much better chance.

“Because we know that the brightest children from the least well-off homes start to fall behind at about 19 months. And nursery schools make the difference.

“So this yet anther example of the Government saying we need to learn from the best in the world, but when we have the best in the world they are prepared to let it go. It is incredibly sad that we are prepared to let this happen.”

Catherine McKinnell, MP for Newcastle upon Tyne North and a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Nursery Schools and Nursery Classes. said: “Nursery schools provide really high quality early years education, helping young children – often from areas of deprivation – get the best possible start in life. I know from Newburn Manor Nursery School in my own constituency just how important their work is.

“However, there are real concerns – which I’ve repeatedly raised with Ministers – that stand alone nursery schools are often forgotten about by Government when early years and education policies are developed.

“It’s clear that the whole of the early years sector is going to find providing 30 hours of free childcare a week extremely challenging, and it’s deeply concerning that the current funding proposals could put the very existence of nursery schools in jeopardy.

“We simply cannot risk losing this provision, and I will be pressing the Minister to think again on this proposal.”

Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, said heads welcomed plans to increase free childcare but there had to be funding.

He said: “There is additional funding available, but only for two years. After that point, England’s nursery schools will cease to be financially viable.

“The thirty hours offer will be doomed before it even gets started, additional places won’t materialise and current places will be lost as nursery schools across England close their doors for good. The government has the data – it must rethink before thousands of families, many in the poorest areas of the country, are left high and dry.”